Propeller-guard.



D. G. WATKINS. PROPELLER GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1910.

983, 587. I Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

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DANIEL G. WATKINS, OF DUNNELLON, FLORIDA.

PROPELLER-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 16, 1910.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL Gr. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunnellon, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Propeller- Guards, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in guards for protecting the propellers of boats, and preventing them from being clogged with grass and weeds.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical guard or protecting device of this character which may be produced at a small cost, and adapted for application to various kinds of boats, and which will effectively protect the propeller from being struck by rocks or other obstructions and being broken, and also from being clogged up with sea grass or other marine growth.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the stern of a boat showing the application of the invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts constituting the invention, the keel of the boat being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 in Fig. 2, a portion of the boat being indicated in dotted lines, and Fig. 4C is a plan view of the shoe.

My improved propeller guard comprises a shoe 1, a transversely extending upright guard ring or member 2, and a series of guard arms or braces 3.

The guard is attached to the bottom portion of the stern of the boat and surrounds the propeller, and the rear end of the shoe 1 may be used to support the lower pivot of the rudder. This shoe 1 is preferably constructed from a metal plate which may be curved transversely as shown in Fig. 3, and has its broadest portion intermediate its ends and opposite the propeller, the rear end of said plate tapering to a point 4:, while its front end is also tapered to extend under the keel to which it is secured by suitable fastenings 5.

The guard member 2 which is preferably in the form of an annular band or ring, is seated in the intermediate portion of the shoe 1, to which latter it is bolted or other wise secured. its upper. portion is adapted to be secured by bolts or analogous fastenings 7, to the stern of the boat. Two or more of the braces 3 are provided on each side of the device, and extend longitudinally, being secured to the opposite sides of the ring or member 2, and the opposite sides of the keel. The braces or arms 3 are similar in construction, each one being formed from a metal strip, the major portion of which has its flat sides disposed horizontally and the front end of which is twisted into a vertical plane, as shown at S, and bolted or otherwise secured to the keel. The rear eX- tremities of the braces 3, are preferably given a slight upward and inward or rearward inclination to form guard fingers 9, while the portions of said braces adjacent the fingers 9, are twisted into vertical planes as shown at 10, and secured by bolts or other fastenings to the side portions of the ring 2. Owing to this construction, it will be seen that the guard forms an inclosing cage or framework which surrounds and protects the propeller, not only from rocks or other obstructions, but also from grass and weeds growing in the water through which the boat passes. Owing to the peculiar construction and arrangement of the braces or arms 3, it will be seen that they will form a path through the grass or weeds for the propeller and will deflect much vegetation away from the propeller and consequently prevent it from being clogged.

It will be understood that slight changes in the form, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, so as to adapt it for application to different kinds of boats.

I claim:

A propeller guard comprising a shoe adapted to be secured to the keel of a boat, an upright open guard member arranged transversely on the shoe and having its lower 1 portion secured thereto, the upper portion of said member being adapted to be secured to the boat, and longitudinally extending brace arms secured intermediate their ends to the opposite sides of the side member, and having their forward ends adapted for attachment to the body, and their rear ends terminating in inturned fingers.

I In testimony whereof I hereunto aitix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL e. WATKINS.

| Vitnesses R. H. SANDERS, l E. HUnnInnnnnn. 

